NYR Prospect Rankings: 6-10

We have finally made it within the top-10 of our Rangers prospect pipeline rankings! In the fourth part of our article series that counts down the top-25 prospects in the New York Rangers’ pipeline, our draft and prospect analysts Rich Coyle, George Obremski, Shawn Taggart and Drew Way give their thoughts and analysis on the prospects that ranked 6-10 in our aggregate site rankings. There was a lot of agreement in our rankings for this set of players, as each of us had Lundkvist, Rykov, Robertson and Hajek ranked in the 6-10 range. Reunanen was ranked 10^th by two of us, and lower by the other two, but because of the large variance of the players we have already discussed in the previous articles, it was still enough for him to average out as our 10^th ranked prospect in our aggregate ranks.

As a reminder, we use Calder trophy eligibility as our definition of whether a player is a prospect or not. All player profile information is courtesy of eliteprospects, unless otherwise noted. If you missed either of our first three articles, you can access them from the following links:

• Eric Ciccolini, 24. Tim Gettinger, 23. Ty Ronning, 22. Sean Day, 21. Olof Lindbom
• Calle Själin, 19. Ville Meskanen, 18. Ryan Lindgren, 17. Lauri Pajuniemi, 16. Jakob Ragnarsson
• 15. Leevi Aaltonen, 14. Joey Keane, 13. Zac Jones, 12. Morgan Barron, 11. Karl Henriksson

*Note – Highlight video above courtesy of one of the best follows on all of NYR Twitter – Alex Nunn

Player Profile:

• Date of Birth: March 1, 1998 (21)
• Nation: Finland
• Position: Defense
• Height: 6’ 0’’
• Weight: 179 lbs
• Shoots: Left
• Drafted: 2016, 98^th overall pick (round 4)
• 2019-2020 Team: TBD, EliteProspects is projecting it to be Lukko (Liiga)

Rich – Tarmo Reunanen has taken a weird development path. Before he suffered several pre-draft injuries, many held him in the same regard as Olli Juolevi, the 5th overall pick of the Canucks in 2016. Reunanen wasn’t drafted until the 4th round, but now the tables have turned. Reunanen has trended up, whilst Juolevi has trended down.

After bouncing around with several teams in different leagues in 2017-18, Reunanen found his footing with Lukko in 2018-19. Averaging over 21 minutes per game, Reunanen was an integral part of the Lukko blueline. He posted 25 points in 58 games for Lukko (6g-19a) and was directly involved in 15% of the goals they scored. All Reunanen needed to get going was some ice-time and a clean bill of health.

If there were a Most Improved Prospect Award, it would almost surely go to Tarmo Reunanen. He had a fantastic season for Lukko and really got his development back on the right track. I thought he would have returned to Lukko to get another year of playing 20+ minutes a night under his belt, but he signed his entry-level contract with the Rangers. Even though he signed said entry-level contract, it is likely that he will be loaned back to Lukko if he doesn’t make the Rangers out of camp. I really like Reunanen’s prospects of becoming a good second pairing defenseman. He is solid all-around, and should be able to play in all situations.

George – Drafted in 2016, Tarmo is an offensive-minded defenseman who is extremely talented. Even though he’s known for his offensive game, he’s not a liability in his own end and he’s played a lot of minutes as the #1 defenseman for Lukko in Liiga. He has the patience to find the open lane while in the offensive zone and has a hard, strong shot. He also has a great first pass which allows the puck to get out of the defensive zone quickly. He has the skating ability to join the rush and is very good in his own end.

Signing his Entry Level Contract during this summer, he will have a chance to fight for a roster spot with the Rangers. That being said, I don’t think he’ll make the Rangers this season. As a left-handed defenseman, he will have to compete with Libor Hajek, Yegor Rykov, Ryan Lindgren and others for the final LHD spot on the roster. Due to the competition on the left side, Reunanen will likely either be in Hartford or end up back in Liiga, as the Rangers can loan him back to Lukko for the season.

Shawn – Poised to make an impact in Hartford this season, Reunanen could easily be someone who could ruffle some feathers this season and get a little time up on Broadway.

I like what he can do when he’s not with the puck; his ability to move around quite easily and play well in his own zone is something that the Rangers may want to consider and have up for them as the season progresses. With the Rangers having a lot of youth on the back end this offseason, if anyone falters a bit, I could see the Rangers doing a rotation with bringing in him and a couple others this year.

He needs some time to adjust to the smaller ice in North America, but honestly I feel that time for him to adjust will be short and he’ll be up on Broadway by December the earliest.

Drew – Reunanen comes in ranked 10^th in both my own personal rankings and in our aggregate ranks. He had a bit of a tumultuous first few seasons after being drafted in the 4^th round of 2016, as he clearly showed flashed of high-end ability when he was on the ice, but unfortunately injuries derailed him at multiple turns. Last season was a different story however, as Reunanen had the breakout campaign we were all hoping for, registering 6 goals and 19 assists (25 points) in 58 games for Lukko of the Finnish Liiga, leading all U21 defenseman in the league in both goals and total points.

When Ranger fans talk about the defense prospects they are excited to see, much of the focus is on K’Andre Miller, Adam Fox, Nils Lundvist and even Hájek and Rykov, and all deserve the praise to varying degrees, but I feel many don’t realize just how impressive of a player Reunanen is. While he’s largely known as an offensive defenseman, I’d strongly argue that he has a much more well-rounded game than he gets credit for. Yes, his most impressive attribute is his play with the puck on his stick; he’s a strong skater with great puck skills for a defenseman, and he rips off some truly dazzling rushes up the ice. He can weave his way through the defense in a manner reminiscent of a talented winger, and he has great vision and a high IQ, allowing him to consistently find open teammates after drawing the attention of the opposing defense. However, in addition to his high-end offensive skill, he’s also reliable in his own end.

Reunanen consistently displays good gap control and positional awareness. While his is an adept skater, he does not over-rely on his skating ability while defending, and you rarely find him chasing the play inappropriately. While he certainly can afford to add more muscle, he does not shy away from contact along the boards or in front of the nets. Don’t get me wrong, nobody will ever mistake him for Dustin Byfuglien, but he is more than willing to engage physically. Most impressively, he has a remarkably calming presence on the ice; you rarely see him rattled, even when the opposition is pressing hard. In my opinion, Reunanen possesses all of the tools to perhaps one day develop into a 2^nd pairing defenseman that can be used in any situation, and a valuable piece for the Ranger moving forward.

Scouting Grades:

• Skating – B+
• Playmaking – B
• Puck Skills – B+
• Shot – C+
• Hockey Sense/IQ – B
• Physicality – B-

Player Profile:

• Date of Birth: February 4, 1998 (21)
• Nation: Czech Republic
• Position: Defense
• Height: 6’ 2’’
• Weight: 203 lbs
• Shoots: Left
• Drafted: 2016, 37^th overall pick by the Lightning (round 2)
• 2019-2020 Team: TBD, EliteProspects is projecting it to be the New York Rangers (NHL)

Rich – Libor Hájek was reportedly the prized acquisition from the Ryan McDonagh trade, although Drew would argue Howden was. The Rangers were hellbent on having him involved in that trade. I don’t believe Hájek is at the level that warrants being a deal breaker in a trade, but the Rangers obviously saw it differently.

Hájek was not at all good for Hartford this season. At times, the speed of the game looked like it was too much for him to handle. His decision making was very questionable, and he had many bad turnovers come as a result of it. The biggest issue was his offensive output, or lack thereof. In 58 games in the AHL, Hájek posted a line of 0g-5a-5p. Hájek was never known to be an offensive dynamo, but those numbers are very concerning. Combine that with the fact that Ryan Lindgren had a better P/GP ratio and it looks even worse. Nonetheless, Hájek actually earned an NHL callup after the trade deadline. He was surprisingly good!

When Hájek was on the ice, the Rangers controlled the shot attempts (Corsi) 69-56. His team relative stats were very impressive as well. Hajek’s relative CF% was 10.51, meaning that the team controlled 10.51% more of the shot attempts while Hajek was on the ice, compared to when he was off. His relative GF% was 10, meaning that the team scored 10% more goals than they conceded when he was on the ice, compared to when he was off. Lastly, his relative xGF% was 19.28, meaning the team generated 19.28% more expected goals when he was on the ice, compared to when he was off (for a better understanding of xG, you can check out Drew’s piece on it here, or you can reference his Hockey Lexicon for a full breakdown of all things advanced stats). Unfortunately, a shoulder injury ended Hájek ‘s season prematurely, so this is a very small sample size. However, there’s no doubting he was very good in his short NHL stint.

Looking forward, I think Hajek will be a lot better than what he showed us in the AHL this past season. I don’t believe his stat line down there resembles his offensive capabilities. Will he be as good as he was in his short NHL stint? That remains to be seen. I am fairly confident that Hájek will make the big club out of training camp, and we’ll find out then. I love Hájek, but don’t I think he’ll ever be a top-pairing guy. I see him becoming a really good second-pairing defender.

George – Acquired in the Ryan McDonagh trade with Tampa, Libor Hájek is a smooth skating defenseman who is very good at both ends of the ice. He has the ability to make good first passes and his shot is strong and can get through traffic. The former second round pick of Tampa in 2016 played his first full season of pro hockey this past year. He played a majority of it in the AHL and it was not very good. He made many mistakes and his numbers were not very good. Once called up, he played well in the NHL until his injury late last season. He’s more known for his defensive play and is strong in the corners and with his skating ability and passing, he’s able to make strong passes and also able to get out of the zone quickly. He also plays a tough game and has the willingness to battle in front of the net to clear opposing forwards.

After his first year of pro hockey, Hájek should be the favorite to be the 3^rd pairing LHD on the Rangers this year. Ryan Lindgren and Yegor Rykov will both battle for that position but given that he played well during his short stint last season, I believe he will be a lock for the roster this season paired with Anthony DeAngelo or Adam Fox depending on how the right side ends up.

Shawn – A tale of two different Hájek’s as we saw his Hartford performance and his short stint with the Rangers last year at two different seasons.

In his first half in Hartford, he wasn’t really getting himself up for the competition, wasn’t really playing his best hockey. Getting beat left and right, and was having a lot of trouble adjusting against this style of competition. The thing was, when he got called up to the Rangers, a lot of fans, including myself were confused about the move. They took the risk, and in the short time frame he was up, it paid off.

The Rangers benefited from a player like Hájek who could move the puck, yet at the same time had no issues adjusting to the competition there. A separated shoulder ended the campaign short in the Big Apple for Hájek, but he has the opportunity to make a name for himself and start up in New York this year.

Drew – Thanks to being involved in the McDonagh trade and his brief stint with the Blueshirts last year, Hájek is perhaps the Rangers’ fanbase seems to know the most about, so I’ll take this opportunity to be (somewhat) brief for once in my life. The fact of the matter is, as my colleagues have pointed out, Hájek was truly abysmal for Hartford last year, and very impressive for the Rangers. To simply chalk his awful AHL performance up to the disarray in Hartford last year would be disingenuous at best, as would paying no attention to his success at the NHL level due to it being a very small sample. Truth is, there is ample evidence on both sides of the debate to allow people to either paint a optimistic or pessimistic portrait of Hájek’s prospects of turning into an impactful NHL player.

Personally, I believe the truth is in the middle. Hájek’s pedigree, underlying skillset and showing in a brief sample size at the NHL level gives me confidence that he is a much better player than what he showed in Hartford. However, as Rich illuminated, his numbers with the Rangers suggest he was the best defenseman on this team during his time on Broadway, and I’m confident that will not continue to be the case either. At the end of the day, he’s an athletic defenseman whose strengths predominantly lie in the defensive zone, but he’s also a good puck mover, decent skater and fine passer. Nothing he does will ever wow you, and I question his overall upside, but I’m very confident in his abilities to, at the very least, be a reliable, mobile defense-first defenseman that anchor a pairing in the bottom-4 while also getting valuable time on the penalty kill.

Scouting Grades:

• Skating – B
• Playmaking – B-
• Puck Skills – C
• Shot – B-
• Hockey Sense/IQ – B+
• Physicality – B

Player Profile:

• Date of Birth: March 9, 2001 (18)
• Nation: Canada
• Position: Defense
• Height: 6’ 4’’
• Weight: 201 lbs
• Shoots: Left
• Drafted: 2019, 49^th overall pick (round 2)
• 2019-2020 Team: Edmonton (WHL)

Rich – I was surprised the Rangers picked Matthew Robertson at #49 given the plethora of left-handed defenseman they already had in the system. Nonetheless, it was a very good pick. I didn’t realize until after the draft that I completely left him out of my final ranking, but he should have been in my sixth tier, which was in early-mid 2nd round.

Robertson is the true definition of a modern-day shutdown defenseman. He’s got size (6’4 205lbs), but he is also mobile. He moves the puck up the ice well and is great in transition, as evidenced by his strong exit/entry tracking data. Most importantly, he is very sound defensively and his hockey IQ is outstanding. Robertson rarely ever makes the head-scratching plays that we’ve seen Rangers defenders make so many times in the past few years. His offensive output is nothing to rave about, but that really isn’t what his game is all about. Robertson’s tracking data (courtesy of Mitch Brown) isn’t much different from that of Bowen Byram. It is also important to note that you should not look at this as the “be all end all”.

Robertson will likely need one more year playing for Edmonton in the WHL before he is NHL-ready. He doesn’t have sky-high upside and thus I don’t see him becoming a top-pairing guy, but he can definitely become a very good second-pairing guy who anchors a more offensively-inclined defenseman (already envisioning a potential Robertson-Fox pairing!).

George – Ranked 28^th in my final 2019 NHL draft rankings, Matthew Robertson has 1^st round talent but dropped to 49^th overall. Robertson is a strong mobile skater who plays in all situations for the Oil Kings in the WHL. He produced well for the team in his draft year posting 7 goals and 26 assists in 52 regular season games while playing in all situations. At 6’4”, he’s a really good skater given his size, featuring a powerful stride, good agility and average edgework. He is a very good passer which allows the puck to get out of the defensive zone quickly and his vision is top notch. With his size, he has a long reach and is able to make timely poke checks when defending. His skating ability also makes it very difficult for him to get beat in the defensive end.

Robertson will be sent back to his WHL team for at least one season. Given the number of defensemen in the Rangers system, it will be tough for him to get a crack at the lineup in the next few years, but by the time Marc Staal and others are off the books, I believe he will have a very good chance on the left side and could end up being a top-4 defenseman.

Shawn – With the Rangers drafting him in the second round of this year’s entry draft, you get a player who really can use his size and speed to his advantage. Something that has been seen a good amount by those who cover the draft.

We’ve heard that the Devils were another team that had Robertson on their radar, but the Rangers made sure they were ready to scoop him up. He gets added to a very crowded back-end, as you can see already by this group of 5 all being defensemen. The Rangers feel that they need the help on the backend and could use some as trade chips.

Robertson won’t be one of those trade chips, but if you wanted someone who could be a valuable 2-3, you can rest easy knowing who else we’ll have in the pipeline.

Drew – Despite the Rangers crushing my hopes and dreams of coming away from the 2019 NHL draft with both Kaapo Kakko and my 2019 Ty Smith Memorial Trophy winner Pavel Dorofeyev, Matthew Robertson represents an excellent value pick by the Rangers at 49.  Personally, I had him ranked 42^nd in my final 2019 draft ranks, which admittedly might’ve been a bit low, but he is a big and very mobile defenseman who is more known for his defensive game than offensive, but that doesn’t mean he lacks offensive tools.

Robertson has a remarkably mature body and game for only an 18-year-old. Watching him effortlessly glide up the ice, both with and without the puck, it’s easy to forget that he is 6’ 4’’ and over 200 pounds; few defenseman his size look as smooth on their skates as Robertson does. He is very good in transition; according to Mitch Brown’s excellent tracking data, Robertson ranking at least in the 87^th percentile among his peers in all four zone entry and exit stats he tracks. Perhaps even more impressive is how highly he rated in terms of his passing ability. Robertson ranks in the top-50% of skaters in all four passing attributes, including 74^th percentile in primary shot assists per-60 (passes leading to a teammate taking a shot), 93^rd percentile in one-timer shot assists per-60 (passes leading to a teammate taking a one-timer) and the 95^th percentile in transition shot assists per-60.

While I’m certainly not comparing Robertson’s overall game to these more highly touted prospects, it should be noted that his transition and passing attributes compare favorably to the likes of Bowen Byram and Cam York, both of whom were lottery picks. Robertson also possesses a heavy and accurate shot, and perhaps my biggest gripe about his game is I wish he would use his shot more often.

I’ve already gone on very positively for two paragraphs about his offensive and transition game, and haven’t even touched the most impressive aspect of his game yet, his defensive ability. I find that come draft time, pundits throw around the term “shutdown defenseman” far too loosely, especially if it’s a big defenseman who doesn’t put up impressive offensive stats (like Alex Vlasic for example). However, I assure you that Matthew Robertson is more than deserving of this label. His combination of agility, edgework and backwards skating ability allow him to maintain proper gap control through transition and in his own zone and always keep himself between the opposition and the areas of the ice he’s attempting to prevent them from getting to. He has a very active stick, which coupled with his long reach allows his to break up plays without compromising his gap control. He also possesses a very high IQ, has excellent positional awareness, and is strong as a freaking ox, all of which contribute to his strong defensive play.

All in all, I’d project Robertson’s most likely outcome to be that of a 2^nd pairing shutdown defenseman that can also drive possession and anchor a team’s top penalty kill. I know some might look at that and be disappointed, as I didn’t label his “most likely outcome” as a top liner, but I assure you this is remarkably high praise for a 2^nd round pick, and if he becomes this, that would make him a very valuable player. Also, I do think if he can continue to develop the offensive side of his game, particularly his playmaking, there is the potential there to crack a top pairing, especially alongside a more offensive-minded player, which the Rangers pipeline is certainly not lacking.

Scouting Grades:

• Skating – B+
• Playmaking – B
• Puck Skills – C+
• Shot – B
• Hockey Sense/IQ – A-
• Physicality – B+

Player Profile:

• Date of Birth: April 14, 1997 (22)
• Nation: Russia
• Position: Defense
• Height: 6’ 2’’
• Weight: 205 lbs
• Shoots: Left
• Drafted: 2016, 132^nd overall pick by the Devils (round 5)
• 2019-2020 Team: TBD, EliteProspects is projecting it to be Hartford (AHL)

Rich – Yegor Rykov and a 2nd round pick were essentially stolen from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a few months of Michael Grabner. It’s safe to say Rykov has become one of the best defensive prospects in the Rangers system since then.

Prior to the 2018-19 season, Rykov found himself in a bit of a limbo with SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL. After playing 53 games with them the season prior, there were rumors circulating that Rykov wanted to come over to North America. SKA did not like this (who could have seen that coming), and exiled him to the VHL. Eventually he moved to HK Sochi and returned to getting regular KHL time. He averaged close to 20 minutes a night and got a solid amount of time under his belt. Rykov didn’t produce much (3g-6a-9p), but like the other defenseman we have talked about so far, he isn’t known for his offensive prowess. Rykov is an efficient player who moves the puck well and doesn’t make many mistakes, all while being very good defensively.

Rykov is a little bit older than some of the other prospects in the pipeline and is thus more advanced in his development. Similarly to Hajek and Robertson, Rykov doesn’t have top-pairing upside, but he can be a guy who does an exceptional job as a second pairing defenseman. I think he has the potential to be that as early as this year. I would not be surprised at all if Rykov makes the team out of camp. If he gets cut before that, I think it’ll be a result of the numbers game and he’ll ply his trade getting top-pairing minutes in Hartford.

George – Rangers acquired Rykov in the Michael Grabner trade when the Devils were trying for a deep playoff run. As a 5^th round pick in the 2016 draft, he is a skilled defenseman and has exceptional skating ability. While playing in arguably the second-best hockey league in the world, he produced quite well for SKA St. Petersburg on limited ice time, due to the team being the best in the KHL. This past season, he played for HK Sochi and produced very well with 3 goals and 6 assists in 47 games. At 6’ 2” and 216 pounds, he already has NHL size and is a very good skater and can play both a skilled and a physical game. He uses his smarts on both sides by being in good position in the defensive end as well as uses his stick to get into passing lanes and to poke the puck free.

After signing his ELC with the Rangers in late spring/early summer, he will have a very long look as possibly the third pairing left defenseman or the seventh defenseman on the team. I believe Hajek will be that sixth defenseman and because of this, I feel that Rykov will spend the season in the AHL; while he has a European Assignment Clause, it is only in place for year-2 of his ELC.

Shawn – Rykov will get a chance to crack the Rangers lineup this year as well, in that rotating group of defensemen with Reunanen, and Lindgren. I feel that Rykov will be one of the final ones caught up and that really is nothing more than him getting use to the new rink size and also just the different speed to the game.

Really known for his defensive game, he’s someone who benefits by playing in his own end and really dictating the play by playing the corners and using his body to make a difference. Rykov could be someone who could replace a player like Marc Staal down the road, but for now will probably get a spot callup starting mid-January for the Rangers.

Drew – Many fans, including some of the analysts in this article, feel that the job of the Rangers’ 3^rd pairing LHD is Libor Hájek’s to lose, and they may be right if the Rangers’ brass is intent on giving him the benefit of the doubt due to his showing last year on Broadway. However, I am of the opinion that at this very moment, Yegor Rykov is a better defenseman and he possesses much more upside. If the Rangers were to decide that the final LHD roster spot will go to whoever most deserves it based on their performance in pre-season, I would fully expect Yegor Rykov to seize the opportunity and earn the spot on the Rangers over Hájek or any of the other prospects. And I’m not just saying this because Rykov was recently under the tutelage of my childhood favorite player, Sergei Zubov.

Rykov is the most physically mature of any of the Rangers defensive prospects that can realistically make the team out of camp. You all remember those pictures of when the Rangers prospects had that outing at a Yankee game shortly after the draft? The kid is an absolute unit, and it also shows in full pads on the ice against men. I’ve seen few defenseman as young as he in a pro league with the ability to almost effortlessly protect the puck and knock the opposition off the puck. He’s comfortable and poised with the puck on his stick, has good vision and consistently makes smart and accurate passes. His shot isn’t anything to write home about, but it’s effective enough to keep the opposing defense honest. His skating ability is perhaps the highlight of his skillset. He isn’t a burner by any stretch of the imagination, but he has good agility, ample power, efficient edgework and is very balanced. This, coupled with his comfort with the puck on his stick, greatly benefits his transition and offensive game.

While he possesses a fairly well-rounded game, defensively is where I believe he will truly excel. He’s a smart and efficient player across all zones, and none more so in his own end. His combination of positional awareness and hockey sense manifest itself in Rykov having a simple but very effective presence in the defensive zone. He rarely gets beat, hardly ever finds himself out of position, and is effective at disrupting the passing lanes. His strength and athleticism allow him to also bully opposing forwards, especially along the boards and in front of the net. Rykov might be the best defenseman in the Rangers system in terms of his ability to disrupt the play in his own zone, take the puck and begin the team’s transition up ice. I am confident that Rykov possesses the abilities to become a dependable and impactful defenseman at the NHL level that most likely settles into a 2^nd pair, shutdown role. However, he does have some offensive upside, that if developed further, could allow him to contribute across any situation.

Scouting Grades:

• Skating – B+
• Playmaking – B
• Puck Skills – B-
• Shot – C+
• Hockey Sense/IQ – A-
• Physicality – B+

Player Profile:

• Date of Birth: July 27, 2000
• Nation: Sweden
• Position: Defense
• Height: 5’ 11’’
• Weight: 174 lbs
• Shoots: Right
• Drafted: 2018, 28^th overall pick (round 1)
• 2019-2020 Team: Luleå HF (SHL)

Rich – Nils Lundkvist was one of the prospects I had shortlisted under “my guys” when the Rangers drafted him with the third of their 3 first round picks in 2018. I absolutely loved the pick.

The D+1 season for the smooth-skating Swede wasn’t great, but it also wasn’t bad. He played on one of the best teams in the SHL, so ice-time was hard to come by. He even found himself playing wing on several occasions. Despite the limited ice-time, Lundkvist still managed to produce a line of 3g-7a-10p in 41 SHL games. He went to the World Juniors with Sweden as well, but ice-time was also an issue there. Lundkvist struggled defensively at times this season and was inconsistent at various points, but that will improve as he matures. He certainly has the ability to produce more offensively, and I think a greater offensive output will come with more ice-time.

Lundkvist will need 1-2 more seasons in Sweden before he is ready to make the jump to North America. He is still really young having just turned 19 on July 27^th, so he gets some leeway in that department. Most of the issues he faces right now will dissolve with some maturity and coaching. I don’t think it’s very farfetched to think he has the potential to become a top-pairing defenseman. He may not become an elite top-pairing defenseman, but I could totally see him doing a respectable job on the top-pairing with someone like K’Andre Miller a few years down the line.

George – Drafted with the third first round pick that the Rangers had in the 2018 draft, Nils is a very good skater who has good speed and acceleration. During his draft year, he played for the SHL as a 17-year-old. This past season, he continued to improve for his SHL team, Luleå HF, doubling his point total in the men’s league. He has above average edgework and agility in which allows him to get out of the defensive zone quickly. He’s much better with the puck and is more of a playmaker than a shooter. His shot is still strong and accurate with a good ability to get through screens. Even though he’s a bit undersized, he’s still very good in his own end as he plays with his head by being in good position.

Went unsigned this past summer, Nils will spend another season with his SHL team as a major part of their defense core. Even after this year, it will take another year before Nils has a shot of making the Rangers. He has top-4 upside that could play in all situations for the Rangers down the road. At this point, he’s more known for his defensive play but with his skating ability and smarts, his offense could be a pleasant surprise for the Rangers.

Shawn – As someone who looks to continue his growth and continue his strong development, this is an important year for Nils Lundkvist. Lundkvist is someone who is worth taking a look after this season, as he wanted to continue to show that he can be someone worth counting on for a long time to come.

With Lundkvist you have someone who can stretch the play a bit, yet his play in his own end is something worthwhile. I think what you see there is someone who can fit and compliment a guy like K’Andre Miller when he gets his chance with the Rangers. I do like the chances of those two making the Rangers around the same time, so getting those reps in will be key.

Lundkvist is someone worth watching if you can. He has very exciting upside to him and the Rangers took their chance with him. I cannot wait for him.

Drew – I can’t realistically lay claim to being the biggest Nils Lundkvist fan among Ranger fans, for as much as I love him, Tobias Pettersson and Stat Boy Steven certainly has me beat, but needless to say I’m a massive advocate of his ability and upside. I was thrilled when the Rangers selected Lundkvist at 28^th overall in 2018, as I had him ranked 25^th in my personal ranks and we had the Rangers taking Lundkvist at 26 in our mock draft. Since the draft, despite some inconveniently times injuries, Lundkvist has done nothing but impress me, and further my admiration for his prospects as a future impact NHL defenseman. While I have Adam Fox and K’Andre Miller ahead of Lundkvist in my NYR prospect ranks, I personally feel Lundkvist belongs on the same tier as them, which, given most of the tremendously high praise I see thrown the pay of Miller in particular, probably is an unpopular opinion, but one I stand by.

Lundkvist has battled through a good amount of diversity already in his young career, including injuries veterans getting the (at times unfair) nod over him in terms of playing time allocation. However, despite these issues, he still managed to put up 10 points in 41 games in the SHL, good for 0.24 points per game and most of any U19 defenseman in the SHL this year. Further, those 10 points were tied for the 10^th most in one season by a u19 SHL defenseman since the 1989-1990 seaosn. For further context, in the season following their draft year, Erik Karlsson and David Rundblad both posted 10 points in 45 games (0.22 ppg) for Frölunda and Skellefteå, respectively, and Erik Brännström notched 15 points in 44 games for HV71 (0.34 ppg).

So, needless to say, when you factor in the league and age context, Lundkvist’s pure production was fantastic last year. But, as I’m sure many of you are thinking, it would be irresponsible to simply rely on points to evaluate a defensive prospect, and I would agree with you there. Lundkvist also features a diverse skillset that I believe will allow him to develop into a two way defenseman that can contribute in any game situation. Nils is excellent with the puck on his stick in transition and in the offensive zone. He is poised and patient with the puck, which coupled with his high IQ, vision and strong passing abilities, allows him to be an adept playmaker. His shot is not a strength of his game, but similar to Rykov, it’s good enough to keep the defense honest, thus keeping the passing lanes open for him.

In his own zone, Lundkvist is a much more capable defender than he gets credit for. From what I’ve seen, he’s a very strong transition defender, he possesses decent gap control and strong positional awareness, and he has a very active stick. However, he is still a bit raw and inconsistent in his own zone, but the flashes I’ve seen from him give me confidence that all the necessary abilities are there, he just needs more reps and polish.

Similar to some of the previous defenseman I’ve discussed, I believe Lundkvist’s most realistic outcome is that of a middle pair defenseman. However, if I had to bet my next paycheck on any of the defenseman in this article becoming this, I’d without hesitation place that bet on Lundkvist. Further, I believe his versatility and playmaking provide him with a higher ceiling than his peers in this article, and allow me to place him closer to some of the players you will see discussed in our final article next week.

Scouting Grades:

• Skating – B+
• Playmaking – B+
• Puck Skills – B
• Shot – B-
• Hockey Sense/IQ – A-
• Physicality – C